Glenn Robinson (coach)
Encyclopedia
Glenn R. Robinson is the men’s basketball coach at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
. Robinson began his 40th season at Franklin and Marshall in 2010. He is the all time wins leader in Division III men’s basketball history with over 780 career victories and currently is 5th on the list of active NCAA coaches victory list.
Robinson grew up in Yeadon, Pennsylvania
. He played high school basketball and baseball at Lansdowne-Aldan High School and then attended West Chester University, where he continued a standout career in both sports. Robinson graduated from West Chester in 1967 and was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Robinson came to Franklin and Marshall in 1968 as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 1971. Robinson’s first season saw Franklin and Marshall improve to 7-14 and then again to 11-13 in his second season at the helm. The 1974 team achieved a record of 13-11, the program’s best season since 1959. Robinson led the Diplomats to a school record 17 wins in 1976. He would go on to reset that record again in 1977 with 22 wins, 1979 with 27, 1991 with 28, and finally in 1996 with 29 victories.
Throughout his tenure, Robinson has coached numerous All-America
ns. Former player and All-American Donnie Marsh
is currently an assistant coach at UAB. Marsh also served as an assistant under Mike Davis at Indiana University
from 2004-2006. Chris Finch, another one of Robinson's 15 All-Americans, is currently the coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
of the NBA's Developmental League
. Finch also played professionally and coached in Europe for several seasons and serves as the head coach for Great Britain men’s national team.
Robinson has coached the Diplomats to the NCAA Division III Tournament 21 times, most recently in 2010, where the team reached the Elite Eight. His teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 15 times and to the Elite Eight nine times. Robinson has also led the Diplomats to five Final Fours, in 1979, 1991, 1996, 2000, and 2009. His 1991 team finished as National Runner-Up after falling to Wisconsin-Platteville in the national championship
. He was named the Basketball Times Division III "Coach of the Year" in 1991 and has been named National Association of Basketball Coaches
"Coach of the Year" 12 times, most recently in 2004, after guiding the Diplomats to a 26-4 record, Centennial Conference
title, and Elite Eight appearance.
Robinson's success reached a high point when he became the all-time wins leader in Division III history by winning his 667th game against Muhlenberg College
on February 14, 2004. Robinson is one of only 18 coaches in NCAA history to amass 750 career wins, putting him on the list with coaches like Bobby Knight
, Dean Smith
, and Mike Krzyzewski. Entering the 2010 season, Robinson sat in seventh place on the all time list, trailing coaches like Jim Boeheim
of Syracuse
and Jim Calhoun
of Connecticut
.
On February 10, 2011, Robinson won his 800th career game vs Gettysburg.
Beyond the wins, Robinson has achieved a near perfect graduation rate of his players. Of all the players to play for Robinson and earn a varsity letter, all but one have gone on to earn their degrees.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
. Robinson began his 40th season at Franklin and Marshall in 2010. He is the all time wins leader in Division III men’s basketball history with over 780 career victories and currently is 5th on the list of active NCAA coaches victory list.
Robinson grew up in Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Yeadon, Pennsylvania
Yeadon is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It borders the City of Philadelphia. The population was 11,762 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yeadon is located at ....
. He played high school basketball and baseball at Lansdowne-Aldan High School and then attended West Chester University, where he continued a standout career in both sports. Robinson graduated from West Chester in 1967 and was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
Robinson came to Franklin and Marshall in 1968 as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 1971. Robinson’s first season saw Franklin and Marshall improve to 7-14 and then again to 11-13 in his second season at the helm. The 1974 team achieved a record of 13-11, the program’s best season since 1959. Robinson led the Diplomats to a school record 17 wins in 1976. He would go on to reset that record again in 1977 with 22 wins, 1979 with 27, 1991 with 28, and finally in 1996 with 29 victories.
Throughout his tenure, Robinson has coached numerous All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
ns. Former player and All-American Donnie Marsh
Donnie Marsh
Donnie Marsh is an assistant men's basketball coach at UAB. He was previously the head coach at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. He was also head coach of The College of New Jersey from 1989 to 1993 and an assistant coach at Indiana University.-External links:*...
is currently an assistant coach at UAB. Marsh also served as an assistant under Mike Davis at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
from 2004-2006. Chris Finch, another one of Robinson's 15 All-Americans, is currently the coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a 2007-08 expansion team in the NBA Development League. They play their home games at the State Farm Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas....
of the NBA's Developmental League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. Finch also played professionally and coached in Europe for several seasons and serves as the head coach for Great Britain men’s national team.
Robinson has coached the Diplomats to the NCAA Division III Tournament 21 times, most recently in 2010, where the team reached the Elite Eight. His teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 15 times and to the Elite Eight nine times. Robinson has also led the Diplomats to five Final Fours, in 1979, 1991, 1996, 2000, and 2009. His 1991 team finished as National Runner-Up after falling to Wisconsin-Platteville in the national championship
NCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship
The NCAA holds an annual tournament to determine the Division III Men's Basketball Championship.Since 1996, the Division III men's basketball championship has been held at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia. The event has been hosted by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and the City of...
. He was named the Basketball Times Division III "Coach of the Year" in 1991 and has been named National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
"Coach of the Year" 12 times, most recently in 2004, after guiding the Diplomats to a 26-4 record, Centennial Conference
Centennial Conference
The Centennial Conference is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in Maryland and Pennsylvania....
title, and Elite Eight appearance.
Robinson's success reached a high point when he became the all-time wins leader in Division III history by winning his 667th game against Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College
Muhlenberg College is a private liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is named for Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America.- History...
on February 14, 2004. Robinson is one of only 18 coaches in NCAA history to amass 750 career wins, putting him on the list with coaches like Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
, Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
, and Mike Krzyzewski. Entering the 2010 season, Robinson sat in seventh place on the all time list, trailing coaches like Jim Boeheim
Jim Boeheim
James Arthur "Jim" Boeheim is the head coach of the men's basketball team at Syracuse University. Boeheim has guided the Orange to eight Big East regular season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, and 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three appearances in the national...
of Syracuse
Syracuse Orange men's basketball
The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
and Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun
James A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
of Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
.
On February 10, 2011, Robinson won his 800th career game vs Gettysburg.
Beyond the wins, Robinson has achieved a near perfect graduation rate of his players. Of all the players to play for Robinson and earn a varsity letter, all but one have gone on to earn their degrees.
Head coaching record
Career highlights
- 12-time NABC Coach of the Year
- 1991 Basketball Times Division III Coach of the Year
- 2009 D3Hoops.com Coach of the Year
- 35 NCAA Tournament victories
- 22 seasons with 21 or more wins
- 21 NCAA DIII Tournament Appearances
- 15 trips to the Sweet 16
- 9 trips to the Elite Eight
- 5 trips to the Final Four
- One NCAA title game appearance